COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 16, 2012) -- Educators who want to improve their classroom skills, better motivate their students and - potentially - earn a master's degree may sign up now for Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum teacher professional development courses.

These intensive week-long graduate-level courses for pre-k - 12 educators provide space-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) content that is instantly transferable to the classroom. All courses are hands-on and focus on national standards and STEM principles. Although the underlying concentration is on STEM, the courses are structured to adapt lessons to all grade levels and all curriculum areas. Participants do not need to be science or math teachers, and public, private and homeschool teachers from around the globe are welcome.

This year's Space Across the Curriculum courses are being held in four different locations - some open to any teacher and some offered to specific school systems. Courses held in Colorado, at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute and at the Space Foundation world headquarters in Colorado Springs, and at Colorado State University - Pueblo, are open to all teachers and cover topics including meteorology, Earth science, astronomy and living and working in space.

2012 Space Across the Curriculum Courses

June 11-15Space Foundation Discovery Institute105 Coleridge Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo.Biological and Physical Research: Long-Term Space TravelLearn how to teach life science concepts by investigating the effects of microgravity on the human body and exploring the dangers of space exploration. Participants can experience astronaut disorientation in a Barany chair and in an underwater pool simulation.

June 11-15Space Foundation World Headquarters 4425 Arrowswest Drive, Colorado Springs, Colo.Earth Systems Science: Our Earth RevealedFor the first time, this course will be held at the new Space Foundation world headquarters, taking advantage of its close proximity to Garden of the Gods park for the field work portion of the class. Discover the Earth's complex geological history in this study of weathering, erosion, natural disasters and global climate change through field trips in the Garden of the Gods and surrounding areas.

June 18-22Space Foundation Discovery Institute105 Coleridge Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo.Meteorology and Space WeatherNew this year! Examine the different areas of meteorology and how to incorporate them into the classroom. Hands-on lessons will be used to teach meteorology and the class will take a trip to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Boulder, Colo.

June 25-29Colorado State University - Pueblo, Colo.Rocketry: The Future of Human Space FlightBuild and launch a variety of rockets including Pop! Rockets, water rockets and chemical rockets. Also, learn how to incorporate rocketry into the classroom to teach a multitude of standards across various subjects. This course is free to Pueblo D60 teachers; others pay a $175 materials fee. Advance registration is required. For details contact, Space Foundation Education Programs Administrator Chrys Rheinbolt at [email protected]

July 9-13Space Foundation Discovery Institute105 Coleridge Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo.Lunar/Mars Exploration and Base ConstructionExplore what it will take to establish and maintain a human presence on the Moon or Mars in this project-based class. Topics include discussion of growing food on Mars and creating oxygen. Build a model of a Lunar or Mars base as the culminating project.

ScholarshipsTo apply for scholarship assistance, please submit two to three paragraphs describing how you plan to integrate and implement the information from the course you will be taking into your classroom curriculum.

All registrations require a deposit per course. After applications are reviewed, if your scholarship is approved your course would be considered paid in full.

Charles County Public SchoolsThe Space Foundation also offers Space Across the Curriculum courses specifically for Charles County (Md.) Public Schools teachers through a partnership with the school district. Interested educators in Charles County (Md.) Public Schools should contact Monique Wilson, coordinator for STEM Education, at [email protected].